Well-bred colt too good on debut

Bruce Stewart Contributor

He’s got some big shoes to fill, but the way Always Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) handled his harness racing debut at Ascot Park today shows he’s well on the way to living up to his pedigree.

“Yeah, thrilled with that. It couldn’t have worked out better,” trainer driver Nathan Williamson said.

Always Dreaming prior to his Ascot Park win (Bruce Stewart Photo)

The full brother to Don’t Stop Dreaming and Dreams Are Free got the perfect trip in the trail behind pacemaker Drummershavtime and got up to win by a length and a half.

“He was a wee bit green coming down the inside but once he got through he sprinted nice.”

The winning time was a sedate 2-08.1 with the last 400 metres run in 27.9.

“You’d hardly think it was a race day really.”

Always Dreaming winning on debut at Ascot Park (Bruce Stewart Photo)

Williamson made sure he was on the track early to let the two year old have a good look at his surroundings.

“He’s real laid back. Way more than his older brother (Dreams Are Free).”

Always Dreaming was bought by Williamson at last year’s NZB Standardbred Sales for $85,000 and is raced by the Nine Three Syndicate, Chris Alcock and the Nude Again Syndicate, the same ownership group that races Sand Wave.

Always Dreaming winning connections (Bruce Stewart Photo)

The two year old colts and geldings get a chance to race again against their own age group in the $20,000 Kindergarten Stakes Prelude at Wyndham on Saturday 16^th March with the time honoured G2 Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes on the same track twelve days later.

The $110,000 Group One Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic at Ascot Park in April is Always Dreaming’s main Autumn target.

He was bred by Brian West who was last month named Breeder of the Year at the Harness Racing New Zealand annual awards. West and partner Mike Jefferies owned No More Dreaming (Bettor's Delight - Start Dreaming) which sold for $340,000 at last month’s NZB Standardbred Sales.